Hidden restaurants

Dining off the beating track.

Remo Remo’s rooftop terrace is one of Dubai’s best-kept secrets, offering comfortable seating in an Arabian style. The real draw, though, is the postcard-perfect view of the Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah. While away the afternoon in peace, sipping sodas, smoothies or coffee and munching on pastries, crisp salads and sandwiches served on their signature bread. The food selection may be small, but like the best short people, well formed. Try the tomato, roasted vegetable and pesto quiche or the salmon sandwich, then treat yourself to an ice-cream sundae. All in all a picturesque venue, serving pleasant, if unremarkable, fare.

Remo Café, Emirates Academy, first floor (04 348 4018). Taxi Emirates Bank on Jumeirah Beach Road. Open Sat-Thu 8am-8pm. All major credit cards accepted. Average price of a meal for two with soft drinks Dhs100

Noodle Sushi Finding this inexpensive Japanese restaurant is a quest (adopt Crouching Tiger style accent) – but a worthy one. Once you’ve discovered it (hint: it’s at the top of the Safestway supermarket, just off Sheikh Zayed Road, at the back of the building, up the escalators and on your left), pick between bamboo cabins and the restaurant’s main body overlooking an open kitchen. You’ll be thankful you made the journey the moment the salty edamame, gossamer-textured Salmon shaki sashimi and crisp duck gyoza dumplings land, like the Holy Grail, on your table.

Noodle Sushi, above Safestway on Sheikh Zayed Road (near the Mazaya Centre) 04 321 1500, Open 11am-2.30pm; 6.30pm-10.30pm daily. All major credit cards accepted. Unlicenced. Average price of a meal for two Dhs270.

Bait Al Wakeel For some reason Bait Al Wakeel has always gone under our – and the city’s – radar. Why that should be the case is a mystery, because this place should be a staple of any city tour. You’re not so much by the Creek as hovering right over it on a platform extending out from one of Dubai’s few genuinely old buildings. That makes for spectacular views, smells and spectacles, as abras, dhows and water taxis crisscross the busy waterway. And if perfectly passable and reasonably priced dishes of moutabal, tabouleh, hummus and falafel are to your taste, then you can’t go wrong.